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Interim Report to the 86th Texas Legislature
House select committee on economic competitiveness
March 2018
HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS
TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
INTERIM REPORT 2018
A REPORT TO THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
86TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE
BYRON COOK CHAIRMAN
TONI BARCELLONA CHIEF COMMITTEE CLERK
ALICIA SEAGRAVES
ASSISTANT COMMITTEE CLERK
Senfronia Thompson Vice-Chair
Members: Angie Chen Button, Sarah Davis, Charlie Geren, Joe Moody, René Oliveira
Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness
March 2018
Byron Cook P.O. Box 2910 Chairman Austin, Texas 78768-2910
The Honorable Joe Straus Speaker, Texas House of Representatives Members of the Texas House of Representatives Texas State Capitol, Rm. 2W.13 Austin, Texas 78701
Dear Mr. Speaker and Fellow Members:
The Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness of the Eighty-fifth Legislature hereby submits its interim report including recommendations for consideration by the Eighty-sixth Legislature.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________ Byron Cook, Chairman
_______________________ ______________________ Senfronia Thompson, Vice-Chair Angie Chen Button
_______________________ ______________________ Sarah Davis Charlie Geren
_______________________ ______________________ Joe Moody René Oliveira
Senfronia Thompson
Vice-Chair
Members: Angie Chen Button, Sarah Davis, Charlie Geren, Joe Moody, René Oliveira
Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness
March 12, 2018 Byron Cook P.O. Box 2910 Chairman Austin, Texas 78768-2910 The Honorable Joe Straus Speaker, Texas House of Representatives Members of the Texas House of Representatives Texas State Capitol, Rm. 2W.13 Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Mr. Speaker and Fellow Members: The Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness of the Eighty-fifth Legislature hereby submits its interim report including recommendations for consideration by the Eighty-sixth Legislature. Respectfully submitted,
_______________________ Byron Cook, Chairman
_______________________ ______________________ Senfronia Thompson, Vice-Chair Angie Chen Button _______________________ ______________________ Sarah Davis Charlie Geren _______________________ ______________________ Joe Moody René Oliveira
Senfronia Thompson
Vice-Chair
Members: Angie Chen Button, Sarah Davis, Charlie Geren, Joe Moody, René Oliveira
Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness
March 12, 2018 Byron Cook P.O. Box 2910 Chairman Austin, Texas 78768-2910 The Honorable Joe Straus Speaker, Texas House of Representatives Members of the Texas House of Representatives Texas State Capitol, Rm. 2W.13 Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Mr. Speaker and Fellow Members: The Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness of the Eighty-fifth Legislature hereby submits its interim report including recommendations for consideration by the Eighty-sixth Legislature. Respectfully submitted,
_______________________ Byron Cook, Chairman
_______________________ ______________________ Senfronia Thompson, Vice-Chair Angie Chen Button _______________________ ______________________ Sarah Davis Charlie Geren _______________________ ______________________ Joe Moody René Oliveira
Senfronia ThompsonVice-Chair
Members: Angie Chen Button, Sarah Davis, Charlie Geren, Joe Moody, René Oliveira
Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness
March 13, 2018
Byron Cook P.O. Box 2910Chairman Austin, Texas 78768-2910
The Honorable Joe StrausSpeaker, Texas House of RepresentativesMembers of the Texas House of RepresentativesTexas State Capitol, Rm. 2W.13Austin, Texas 78701
Dear Mr. Speaker and Fellow Members:
The Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness of the Eighty-fifth Legislature hereby submits its interim report including recommendations for consideration by the Eighty-sixth Legislature.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________Byron Cook, Chairman
_______________________ ______________________Senfronia Thompson, Vice-Chair Angie Chen Button
_______________________ ______________________Sarah Davis Charlie Geren
_______________________ ______________________Joe Moody René Oliveira
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Speaker Joe Straus Proclamation Excerpt....................................................................................... 7
Public Hearings ............................................................................................................................... 8 Invited Testimony ....................................................................................................................... 8
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 10
Background ................................................................................................................................... 11 Barriers to Business Attraction ..................................................................................................... 11
Legislative Actions ................................................................................................................... 11
Education and Workforce Development ....................................................................................... 12 Labor ......................................................................................................................................... 12
Higher Education ...................................................................................................................... 13
Public Education ....................................................................................................................... 15
Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement .............................................................................. 15 Transportation ........................................................................................................................... 15
Water ......................................................................................................................................... 16
Digital Connectivity .................................................................................................................. 17
Energy & Utility ....................................................................................................................... 17
Business-Friendly Climate ............................................................................................................ 17
Quality of Life........................................................................................................................... 18
Economic Incentives ................................................................................................................. 19
Regulatory Environment ........................................................................................................... 19
Taxes ......................................................................................................................................... 19
Small Business .......................................................................................................................... 20
Conclusion and Recommendations ............................................................................................... 21
Appendix A ................................................................................................................................... 25 Appendix B ................................................................................................................................... 27 Appendix C ................................................................................................................................... 30
Appendix D ................................................................................................................................... 33 Appendix E ................................................................................................................................... 34 Appendix F.................................................................................................................................... 37 Appendix G ................................................................................................................................... 40 Appendix H ................................................................................................................................... 41
Appendix I .................................................................................................................................... 43
Appendix J .................................................................................................................................... 44
Appendix K ................................................................................................................................... 47 Endnotes ........................................................................................................................................ 48
7
House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness
Interim Report, 85th
Legislature
Speaker Joe Straus Proclamation Excerpt
"Texas has long enjoyed a booming economy and staggering job growth. Our economic strength
has been predicated on a number of factors: high oil prices, geography, the tax and regulatory
environment within the state, and the can-do attitude of millions of Texans. However, there are
forces, if left unchecked, that could derail the success our state has enjoyed.
In the last several months, two unique events, one positive and one negative, have presented
themselves to Texans. First, Hurricane Harvey has caused billions of dollars in damage.
Second, a major corporation has proposed a nationwide search for the location of a second
headquarters, offering economic benefits equal to the losses caused by Harvey's damage.
Multiple Texas cities are potentially participating in the competition for the headquarters.
Both events illustrate the importance of making sure that Texas continues to welcome and foster
private-sector growth. In a global economy that is increasingly competitive, Texas needs to
remain ahead of the pack. As other states grow more sophisticated and aggressive in their
pursuit of job creators, Texas needs to make sure that our approach is appropriate for the private
sector's changing needs and demands."
The purpose is to show businesses seeking to come to Texas or that are already located in Texas,
the principles that the Texas House believes should guide the state's pursuit of long-term
economic growth.
In developing these principles, the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness shall:
Examine commitments by the state to education and workforce development to ensure Texans
and their employers have access to high-paying skilled workers.
Examine infrastructure -- including transportation, energy, water, and utility -- to ensure capacity
to accommodate growing existing businesses and companies settling in Texas.
Examine access to investment capital required to maintain healthy existing companies and
newcomers to Texas.
Examine investments in innovation, including barriers to innovation such as unnecessary
regulations that would deter or impede the desire of a business to either remain in the state or
choose to locate here.
Examine existing and potential economic tools to compete for or retain jobs, including the
appropriate use of those tools and the effectiveness of existing economic development programs.
Examine the tools and authority of local governments to craft appropriate and specific responses
to accommodate growing existing businesses and companies settling in Texas.
8
Examine successful and unsuccessful attempts to lure economic development projects to the state
or other states, including common themes reported by companies and employees in choosing to
locate or not locate to a state.
Public Hearings
The House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness held two public hearings to address
the seven components of this proclamation. They were held on November 15, 2017 and
December 5, 2017 at the state capitol in Austin, Texas. The committee heard invited testimony
from 42 distinguished witnesses who included some of the state's most renowned leaders,
entrepreneurs, executives and academicians.
These two hearings are archived and may be viewed at www.capitol.state.tx.us.
Invited Testimony -- (Alphabetical Order)
Art Acevedo, Chief of Police, Houston Police Department
Chuck Allen, Managing Director of Government Affairs, American Airlines; Chairman,
North Texas Commission
James Bass, Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation
Laura Cagle-Hinojosa, Statewide Historically Underutilized Business Program Manager,
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Katy Caldwell, Chief Executive Officer, Legacy Community Health
Jeff Cheney, Mayor, City of Frisco
Dale Craymer, President, Texas Taxpayers Research Association
Mark Cuban, Entrepreneur; Owner, National Basketball Association’s Dallas Mavericks
Bryan Daniel, Executive Director, Governor's Office of Economic Development and
Tourism
Anna Eastman, Trustee, Houston Independent School District, District One
Buck Gilcrease, Ph.D., Superintendent, Alvin Independent School District
Roger Guenther, Executive Director, Port of Houston Authority
Fred Humphries, Corporate Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs, Microsoft
Corporation
Andrew Keller, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, The Meadows Mental
Health Policy Institute
Linda LaMantia, Chair, Texas Cultural Trust
“The world is watching, from CEOs to the best
and brightest workers. They need to see that
Texas welcomes them and is determined to stay
at the front of the pack when it comes to
economic development.”
-- Speaker Joe Straus
9
Jim Lites, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars
Brian Lloyd, Executive Director, Public Utility Commission of Texas
Tom Luce, Business and Community Leader
Stan Marek, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marek Companies/Marek Family of
Companies; Board Member, Greater Houston Partnership
Dee Margo, Mayor, City of El Paso
Casandra Matej, President and Chief Executive Officer, Visit San Antonio
Brian McCall, Ph.D., Chancellor, The Texas State University System
William McRaven, Chancellor, The University of Texas System
Robb Misso, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dynamic Manufacturing Solutions,
LLC
Senator John Montford, Former Chairman, State Parks Advisory Committee
Charles O’Neal, President, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce
Pia M. Orrenius, Ph.D., Vice President and Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of
Dallas
H. Ross Perot, Jr., Chairman, Perot Group
Ray Perryman, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, The Perryman Group
Lloyd Potter, Ph.D., State Demographer, Texas Demographic Center (resource only)
Mike Reeser, Chancellor, Texas State Technical College System
Richard Rhodes, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Austin Community
College
Gilberto Salinas, Interim Executive Director, Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation
John Sharp, Chancellor, The Texas A&M University System
Bryan Shaw, Ph.D., Chair, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Jeff Shellebarger, President, Chevron North America Exploration and Production; Chair,
Greater Houston Partnership
Greg Sims, President and Chief Executive Officer, Greenville Economic Development
Corporation
Senator Todd Staples, President, Texas Oil and Gas Association
Iain Vasey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Corpus Christi Regional Economic
Development Corporation
DeAnn Walker, Chair, Public Utility Commission of Texas
Julie Weber, Vice President, People, Southwest Airlines
David Zachry, Chief Executive Officer, Zachry Corporation
10
Introduction
Texas has succeeded with a resilient and thriving economy for decades through an economic
model that has fostered growth by implementing a low cost of living, a diversified business base,
low union involvement, high levels of domestic migration and a relatively low per capita tax
burden. Our history as explorers, innovators and entrepreneurs points to a future full of
opportunity.
However, in July 2017, Texas dropped to number four in the nation on the America's Top States
for Business rankings.1 This was the first time in 11 years that the Lone Star State finished
outside the top two spots -- this should be alarming to all Texans.2
Dynamics that may have contributed to this drop in business rankings include: the increase in
global competition, an emerging mismatch between available jobs and workers' skills, an
increase in housing costs, outdated infrastructure, high property taxes and certain actions taken
by the 85th Legislature.
In October 2017, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus appointed a new select committee for House
leaders to study and highlight the most effective ways for Texas to compete for jobs, investments
and highly skilled workers -- thus, the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness
was formed.
The committee took a holistic approach to examine the considerations which led to the decline in
business rankings and to reassert that Texas is fully committed to private-sector growth.
It was encouraging when, in November 2017, Texas rose up in the Forbes' Best States for
Business overall rankings, landing the number two spot once again.3 Through the testimony of
42 influential and prominent individuals, the committee explored reasons for the decline and then
the improvement in the same year.
These expert witnesses representing small and large business, law enforcement and local
communities discussed matters including: 1) Barriers to Business Attraction, 2) Education and
Workforce Development, 3) Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement and 4) a Business-
Friendly Climate. A common concern that was shared by many witnesses was the belief that
certain social policies considered during the 2017 legislative session were not only superfluous,
but also unenforceable and harmful to the state's economy.
Because Texas legislators are constitutionally required to meet for no more than 140 days every
two years, they only have a short time to address issues important to taxpayers such as: property
taxes, the state budget, education, public safety and infrastructure. Witnesses highlighted how
unnecessary and divisive initiatives detract from legislative proposals that could actually make
Texas the number one place for business to flourish and prosper. Testimony underscored that
lawmakers should use those 140 days to focus on sensible policies and regulations that ensure a
bright economic future.
This report exposes areas in which Texas needs to improve and reveals solutions and
recommendations to the 86th Legislature.
11
Background
By taking a focused look at where we are now, we can better determine how Texas can reach and
maintain the number one spot in business rankings. An accurate assessment is necessary to
understand what must be done, and what must be avoided, to continue to be globally competitive
and become the number one state in the U.S. for business to grow and thrive.
Barriers to Business Attraction
Although all Texans should be proud of what the people of this state have achieved, any barriers
to business attraction threaten our remarkable economic growth and resilience. Therefore, the
committee concentrated on potential threats to the state's economy, including: a labor shortage
for middle-skilled jobs, inadequate funding for public education, outdated infrastructure and
manufactured social issues considered by elected officials.
Legislative Actions: As well-known Dallas business and community leader, Tom Luce said,
"The Texas Miracle wasn't a miracle." It was the result of intentional efforts on behalf of the
business community and state leadership.4 This success was seriously threatened during the 85th
Legislature when legislation known as the "bathroom bill" became a major priority for first the
lieutenant governor and then the governor. By making this and other unnecessary social issues a
priority, lawmakers were forced to divert their attention from critical topics like education,
property taxes, the state's budget and infrastructure.
Although this legislation was touted by its proponents as
necessary for protecting the "privacy and safety" of
women and children, law enforcement testified that there
were already laws on the books to protect women and
children from any crime that could possibly occur in any
restroom. Moreover, the legislation only applied to
government buildings. If the proposed law was so
necessary to "protect women and children," why would it
not also apply to all public restrooms? If passed, would
that have meant that women and children were not safe
using non-government restrooms and why would that be
acceptable?
Leaders of the Texas House of Representatives took great notice of North Carolina's demise that
was caused by passing similar legislation. The law cost North Carolina an estimated $500
million in lost economic activity, per Forbes.5 Texas House leadership did defeat this bad
proposal twice, which is likely why Texas moved up in the business rankings in November 2017.
However, that may not be enough to entice companies such as Amazon to choose Texas for the
location of its HQ2. When policymakers even contemplate ideas that put business viability at
risk, it injects uncertainty in the economy.
If enacted, the law would cost
Texas an estimated $3.3 billion
in foregone economic activity
and the loss of over 35,600 jobs
per year.
--Ray Perryman, Ph.D.
12
When states try to
mandate social policy it
not only interferes with
matters best determined
by local governments,
but it also intrudes on
individual liberties,
such as privacy.
It concerned many business leaders when the governor added the
measure as a priority in the 30-day special session because it
endangered the state's competitive edge. Ultimately small and
large businesses engaged and had to devote an extraordinary
amount of effort and resources on this needless legislation.
Notable witnesses took valuable time out of their schedules to take
a public stand, which will hopefully encourage future legislatures
to refocus on the real matters important to taxpayers.
Countless witnesses concurred that it would be in the state's best
interest if Texas state leaders acknowledge that such legislation
should not have been pursued and publicly state that it will not be
considered again. Unless and until this public commitment is
made, we will likely lose out to other states for not only bids like
Amazon's HQ2 and its $5 billion investment and 50,000 new jobs, but other business
opportunities as well.6 Texas House leaders hope this is not the case.
Education and Workforce Development
As Texas grows and diversifies economically, its education and workforce present both
challenges and opportunities for future competitiveness. Texas is fortunate to have a young,
growing population, yet it also has an aging population that will require the development of the
current generation’s skills to support it. There are also concerns regarding the disparity in
education outcomes for many Texans. If Texas fails to maintain an environment that supports
migration or fails to develop its talent pool, it will lose its competitive edge.
The Houston and Dallas metro areas have added an estimated 1 million domestic migrants since
the year 2000.7 Looking at the upcoming bicentennial in 2036, in order to maintain a minimum
rate of 4.3 percent unemployment, we must add 7.4 million jobs.8 Although current
unemployment in the state is at an all-time record low, keeping it at low levels will require robust
job growth.
Labor: Education and workforce development are fundamental to private-sector job expansion;
and given the current trajectory, Texas is at risk for decreasing educational attainment.9
Businesses need workers to operate their enterprises, and want large, diverse sources of talent
from which to select their workers.
Testimony disclosed that companies are seeing the effects of a tightening labor market.10
Numerous witnesses elaborated about the need for a skilled and educated workforce, as there is a
discrepancy between available jobs and a trained workforce to fill those jobs -- particularly for
middle-skilled jobs.11
Testimony indicated that according to the Texas Workforce Commission
numbers in September 2017, the total number of job postings advertised was 300,260 vs.
543,637 unemployed, revealing that qualifications of job-seekers do not match requirements of
open jobs. This mismatch of skills is more pronounced in the technical sector.12
Jeff
Shellebarger of Chevron and the Greater Houston Partnership reinforced the value of a skilled
workforce when discussing factors that contribute to economic competitiveness stating, “None is
13
more important than a robust supply of workers armed with the skills needed to succeed in the
jobs of tomorrow.”
Multiple witnesses cited the new "sanctuary cities" law as an excessive regulation that
completely hinders development. Testimony by Stan Marek, president and CEO of Marek
Construction, revealed that the law, parts of which are currently being litigated, has had a
significant impact on the construction industry due to the industry's reliance on immigrants to
meet labor needs. There was already an “extreme” shortage of workers in Southeast Texas prior
to Hurricane Harvey, but after the disaster Marek observed, “Now that we have this terrible
catastrophe, I don’t know where we’re going to get the workers to rebuild Houston.” 13
Many
workers, documented and undocumented, have refused to go to Texas construction sites
following the passage of the law, fearing local police will detain them.14
Houston and surrounding areas along the Gulf Coast are not alone in experiencing a tight labor
market -- in Dallas-Fort Worth tens of thousands of additional workers are needed to keep up
with the demand for new homes throughout the area.15
The Dallas Builders
Association estimates that roughly 20,000 new workers would need to enter the market to keep
up with current demand.16
Higher Education: Many young Texans grow up in difficult circumstances, but that should
not be an excuse not to educate them. Over the last 10 years, the number of students enrolled in
Texas public schools that are classified as "economically disadvantaged" has increased by 24
percent.17
The Hispanic population is the fastest growing and currently has one of the lowest
rates of educational attainment, so unless disparities across race are solved, Texans' educational
attainment will decrease.18
High school graduation rates have increased for Hispanics and
African Americans, but these groups have lower rates of completion of community college
programs or four-year universities.19
According to the vice president and senior economist at the
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Pia M. Orrenius, Ph.D., "Texas is on the brink of squandering a
demographic dividend by underinvesting in a pool of high school graduates."20
Source: Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on
Economic Competitiveness.
14
Decreasing attainment will exacerbate a current mismatch between Texans' skills and the
requirements in our changing labor market. Currently, 35 percent of Texans, population age 25-
34, hold an associate's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 44 percent…we
must do better.21
Testimony indicated that a high school degree alone is insufficient for
the state's workforce to remain competitive, which is especially
distressing since Texas ranks in the bottom fifth of the nation for high
school graduates that directly enroll in higher education programs.22
Approximately 29 percent of the forecasted jobs in Texas will require
a four-year degree or higher, and half of the jobs will require a two-
year degree or college certificate.23
Community colleges and four-
year universities will play a vital role in equipping youth with skills
that lead to jobs and filling labor shortages in certain professions.
Partnerships between these institutions and the business community
are pivotal to determine where these shortages exist and how to
address them through education.24
From 2005 to 2015, the number of technical jobs increased by 45
percent, while technical degrees awarded only increased by 15
percent.25
According to Chancellor Mike Reeser of Texas State
Technical College, this rise in technical jobs is inconsistent with the
current focus of two-year colleges in Texas, which have increasingly
offered traditional academic studies at the expense of technical
courses.26
While technical courses are more expensive than traditional
academic courses, providing more technical training is important to
address the current skills gap.27
Research at institutions of higher education is also a component of the state's economic
advancement. Texas currently hosts eight Tier One research universities, according to the
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.28
Top research universities cultivate
innovation and play a key role in the state's economic prosperity, but it is important to address all
levels of higher education and improve graduation completion rates across the board.29
The state
must continue to build on previous legislative achievements, such as the 83rd Legislature's
House Bill 5, which changed graduation requirements to help students better prepare for
successful careers and promoted new collaboration among high schools, community colleges and
industry. Providing more financial incentives for educational institutions to collaborate from the
pre-K to university levels is one proposed solution.30
The University of Texas System chancellor, William McRaven, highlighted the need to produce
more college graduates to continue competing with other states, noting that Texas has the fastest
growing population of 15-19 year olds, but its college graduation rate is below the national
average. He underscored the importance of state funding, which has been declining and has
required universities to rely more on tuition fees to meet costs, making a college education
unaffordable for many students.
"We have a real
education gap in
Texas with a much
smaller share of our
young adults having
college degrees than
the national
average."
--Pia M. Orrenius,
Ph.D., Vice President
and Senior
Economist, Federal
Reserve Bank of
Dallas
15
"If the legislature allows
changes that thwart
infrastructure projects,
they will kill jobs and hurt
the Texas economy."
--Senator Todd Staples, President, Texas Oil and
Gas Association
Public Education: Public education teaches students basic skills before entering the
workforce and fosters innovation.31
Policymakers must deal with school finance, examining not
just the amount of money allocated for education, but how we distribute it -- and how we can
better incentivize public educators and institutions.32
The governor's recently proposed 2.5
percent cap on property tax revenue will be detrimental to school funding since school districts
receive 40 to 60 percent of property taxes across the state.33
The Texas House passed a 6 percent
cap during the 85th Legislature, but the measure was killed by the Senate; this new proposal will
severely reduce school resources unless more funding is appropriated by the legislature.
House Bill 21 of the 85th Legislature would have increased the state's share of school funding
and reduced the need for higher property taxes -- easing the burden on homeowners -- but the
legislation died after being altered by the Senate. After all, how can the challenges facing the
future competitiveness of the state's workforce be addressed if Texas turns its back on its public
school system, or does not address its method for allocating resources to public schools?
The importance of local control for school districts was stressed with the explanation that local
control granted from the state is important for hiring staff and providing a safe campus for
students.34
Educators want their graduates to meet the specific needs of where their district is
located, which makes local control imperative for creating curriculum and making decisions
about how to meet those needs.35
Testimony also demonstrated the need for presenting high
school students with information about technical programs, rather than only promoting four-year
universities.36
Public schools must address the needs of students with disabilities, but programs
to help them transition to the workplace and speech, occupational and physical therapies are
consistently underfunded.37
Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement
Infrastructure is fundamental to competitiveness. Testimony revealed that the quantity and
quality of roads, pipelines, electrical lines, water pipes and ports are crucial for determining
where to place investment dollars.38
The Texas Section of the American Society of Civil
Engineers graded Texas’ overall infrastructure a C-. Grades in specific categories include a B in
bridges, B- in aviation, D+ in drinking water, and D’s in highways and roads, dams, flood
control and wastewater.39
Despite recent efforts, current levels of infrastructure funding are
inadequate to meet projected needs.
Transportation: With the increased population growth and
81 percent of our workers commuting by themselves, Texas is
experiencing an increasing amount of congestion on its roads
and highways.40
Commuters in Texas’ largest metropolitan
areas are spending 52 hours of their year in traffic, costing
Texans time and money; and affecting their quality of life.41
David Zachry, CEO of the Zachry Corporation, testified that
investing in state transportation would lead to safer road
conditions, improved traffic flows and better air quality.42
Reliable and consistent revenue streams have been an issue for
16
the Texas Department of Transportation, according to the agency's executive director. He lauded
constitutional amendments approved in 2014 and 2015 that allocate more money to the State
Highway Fund. The motor fuel tax is the most reliable source of income for the agency, while
the oil and gas severance taxes are the least predictable.43
Discussion revealed the need for
relieving businesses of high congestion areas and delayed construction projects, as well as
ensuring rural areas receive adequate funding.
Texas ports are a fundamental component of the state's transportation system and a driving force
of the state's economy. Ports along the Gulf Coast generate approximately $368.7 billion in
economic activity each year.44
The Port of Houston, one of the world's busiest ports, not only
creates $265 billion annually in statewide economic activity, but also generates 1.2 million jobs
in Texas.45
The executive director of the Houston Port Authority testified that land
infrastructure is crucial to the success of ports and expressed the need for investing in low-
emissions technology that efficiently transports freight, since the competitive movement of
freight is essential to the state's economic success.
Water: Unfortunately, testimony revealed that Texas trails the nation in the conservation of
necessary resources, which is an essential consideration for modern business. Our state's
decreasing water supply and increasing demand caused by population growth are straining the
availability and quality of resources.46
According to the Texas Water Development Board, the
state’s population is expected to increase by more than 70 percent from the year 2020 to 2070.47
Water demand is projected to increase by 17 percent in all categories; the most significant
increase will occur in water for municipal use, with smaller increases for manufacturing and
steam-electric usage.48
Source: Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select
Committee on Economic Competitiveness.
17
House Bill 4 from the 83rd Legislature provided a one-time investment of $2 billion from the
Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF), establishing a revolving loan program to help communities
address local water shortages. This type of creative problem-solving should be a model for
future policy answers to infrastructure challenges. The need for innovative thinking is especially
pronounced because of constraints that have recently been imposed on limited state resources.
Population growth has also led to increased development in risky areas, such as floodplains.
This development reduces land capable of absorbing floodwaters, exacerbating natural disasters
like 2017’s Hurricane Harvey, which is estimated to cost $180 billion.49
To underscore this issue, there has been recent news coverage of a Fort Bend County assistant
engineer’s warning to county officials in 1992 that subdivisions around the Barker Reservoir
were being built at levels lower than the water level the local dams were designed to hold,
placing homeowners at risk for future flooding in areas known as ‘flood pools.’50
The warnings
were ignored; and by 2017, 30,000 homes and businesses were located in flood pools in Fort
Bend and Harris counties.51
In August 2017, 9,000 structures upstream of the Addicks and
Barker dams were flooded due to the historic rainfall from Hurricane Harvey.52
Digital Connectivity: Currently, 46 percent of the state's rural households and 5 percent of
urban households lack access to fixed advanced broadband.53
A lack of availability of high
speed Internet service reduces the sales access of companies that sell merchandise and services
over the Internet, such as Amazon. Without high speed Internet, residents cannot search for
online job vacancies and their educational opportunities are greatly reduced.
Energy & Utility: Texas' energy affordability and accessibility are instrumental in attracting
and retaining business.54
Retail costs for electricity in Texas have declined by 20 percent over
the past decade, while average costs across the U.S. have increased by 16 percent.55
H. Ross
Perot, Jr. noted the importance of Texas' abundance of energy sources for data centers, such as
Facebook and Microsoft, since these centers require reliable sources of energy to operate. Wind
and solar power are also important factors for many corporations located in Texas, with
companies such as Walmart, Ikea and General Motors having wind and solar power purchasing
agreements across the state.56
Business-Friendly Climate
Maintaining a business-friendly climate has historically included the use of economic incentives,
a favorable regulatory environment and competitive tax structures, but more recently high
quality of life indicators have played a significant role. Current site selection processes, such as
Amazon's search for its proposed HQ2 location, include a more comprehensive look at factors
than those traditionally emphasized by companies.57
Businesses recognize that operating in
areas with high quality of life indicators, such as shorter commute times and proximity to good
schools, is central to attracting talent.
18
Quality of Life: Although our state is a great place to live, work and raise a family, Texas
communities have room for improvement in several measures of quality of life. As noted earlier
in this report, Texans in metropolitan areas spend an estimated 52 hours a year in traffic.
Texas housing costs have risen dramatically in recent years, and according to a 2017 report by
Forbes, the two most overvalued housing markets in the U.S. are in Texas.58
The two cities
topping this list are San Antonio and Austin, where housing prices are increasing at higher rates
than income, leading to an overvaluation of 18.6 and 17 percent respectively.59
Potential discriminatory legislation is another factor affecting quality of life assessments and was
a major concern for witnesses representing the hospitality, transportation, technology and
entertainment industries. The executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic
Development and Tourism testified that the proposed "bathroom bill" legislation made his job
more difficult to lure business to Texas.60
Diversity and inclusion are priorities for many
companies and any legislation that would affect these values and principles would deter
businesses from locating to Texas.61
The bill caused three groups to cancel conventions in Texas
at a loss of $66 million in economic activity, according to the president and CEO of Visit San
Antonio.62
If enacted, the law would initially cost Texas an estimated $3.3 billion in foregone
economic activity and would lead to the loss of over 35,600 jobs per year.63
Public safety is also a key consideration for many employers and their employees. Houston
Police Chief Art Acevedo testified that the "sanctuary cities" bill has had a negative impact on
public safety in Texas because both documented and undocumented immigrants are more fearful
of the police, resulting in reduced reporting of criminal activity. His testimony disclosed that
reports of violent crime increased for every ethnic and racial group in Houston except for the
Hispanic population, where reports dropped 42.8 percent for sexual assaults.64
He cited this drop
in reporting of crimes is because perception is reality, and due to the widespread media attention
the bill received, many thought it took effect when the bill was passed by the legislature.
Community trust and involvement are crucial to the police department's success; when
legislation threatens these values, the whole state is endangered.
Current healthcare challenges in Texas have a significant impact on quality of life assessments.
With 4.5 million people lacking health coverage, Texas has the highest uninsured rate of any
state in the nation.65
In state comparisons for other health outcomes, Texas ranks exceedingly
low: it is 45th in the number of primary care physicians per capita, 40th in obesity rates, 43rd in
maternal health outcomes and 33rd in mental health outcomes.66
The state also has a
complicated and lengthy licensure process for out of state physicians and nurses, which
artificially lowers the supply of some healthcare workers.67
According to the president and CEO of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Andrew
Keller, Ph.D., an estimated 300,000 Texans with severe mental health needs are currently not
receiving any care. This staggering statistic is especially alarming in regards to rates of
depression and the workplace. Approximately 7.5 percent of the workforce has depression each
year, costing U.S. employers $187.8 billion annually in healthcare costs, absenteeism and lost
productivity.68
19
Modern companies also consider access to the arts and the prevalence of state parks when
expanding their businesses. Young professionals want to live and work in areas with a vibrant
arts and culture scene, which is concerning for Texas since the state ranks 47th in the nation for
spending on the arts.69
State parks are a source of employment and generate $774 million in
sales annually, but the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department lacks the consistent and predictable
funding from the Texas Legislature needed to address challenges like flooding or capital
improvements.70
Economic Incentives: Economic incentives are crucial for bringing business to Texas. Tax
abatements are especially important to offset the state's high property tax rate.71
These
incentives have played a role in numerous projects, such as Corpus Christi's acquisition of a $10
billion Exxon Mobil facility and Brownsville's attraction of the SpaceX facility.72
Under the
right circumstances, incentives can help deliver high-quality jobs, capital investment and a
broadened and diversified tax base; but, incentives need to be applied consistently and
transparently and the legislature must ensure they are meeting all of these goals.
The successful use of economic incentives centers on local control. The mayor of Frisco
explained how local control enabled the city to create an identity for its community and use
economic tools to lure businesses that ascribe to that vision, such as sports teams, research
centers and incubators that specialize in sports.73
Regulatory Environment: Efficient issuing of licenses and permits by state agencies is
essential to provide a regulatory environment that is friendly to business. The Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality offers an expedited permitting process for certain
wastewater and stormwater permits, in some cases reducing the processing time from 330 days
to 110 days.74
State agencies must reduce bureaucracy within the permitting and licensing
process, and agencies and legislators need to ensure certainty in their policies as to not create
unnecessary risks for businesses.
Outdated government information technology systems have led to inefficiencies within the state's
government. Our lack of modernization makes it harder to get the data needed for informed
policy decisions, yet one solution is to transfer operating systems to a cloud-based system.75
A
data- and cloud-driven operating system would make Texas government more effective, efficient
and accountable, and would enable the state to adapt to the accelerating rate of change of
technology.76
Multiple witnesses testified that the North American Free Trade Agreement strongly benefits the
Texas economy. Mexico and Canada are pivotal trading partners and the destination for 50
percent of Texas’ exports.77
Moreover, a majority of the land trade between the U.S. and Mexico
travels through Texas. In 2015, approximately 75 percent of this trade went through Texas ports
of entry, resulting in more than 380,000 jobs in Texas that are contingent on trade with Mexico.78
Taxes: A pro-growth tax structure is necessary to attract new business to Texas. The Section
4A and 4B sales taxes have been instrumental in creating revenue for cities' economic
development (the 4A sales tax is only for smaller cities, while any city is eligible for 4B).79
However, concerns have been raised that the 4A/4B sales taxes have led to unequal development
20
across the state, as cities that elect to use the full additional sales tax for transit authorities are
unable to use the local option sales tax related to economic development.80
While Texas is a low tax state for individuals, and has no income tax, it is a high tax state for
businesses -- particularly for those in capital-intensive industries.81
The state's high property
taxes are the biggest hindrance to attracting new business; for an industrial facility, Texas has the
5th highest property taxes in the nation.82
This creates significant concern for large and small
businesses since they carry the majority of the tax burden in the state. Texas cities have used
Chapters 312 and 313 of the Tax Code to provide tax incentives on the local level, but this is
often not enough to attract new investments.83
Small Business: Small businesses often lack the access to capital afforded to medium and
larger corporations. It is generally harder for them to obtain loans from traditional banks due to
high credit score requirements.84
Small business service provider grants from the Office of the
Governor and the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Jobs 4 Texas program are critical to
ensuring small businesses receive access to capital.85
Community Development Financial
Institutions are also an important source of capital and have assisted businesses affected by
natural disasters, such as Hurricane Harvey.86
Texas agencies that contract with historically underutilized businesses (HUBs) are imperative to
the state’s economic improvement and by partnering with HUBs, these agencies and universities
are creating more opportunities for small business owners belonging to groups that have
previously been discriminated against.87
Those currently eligible for HUB classification include
women, minorities and service-disabled veterans, but the state should consider adding persons
with disabilities to this category.88
According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts,
statewide HUB utilization has decreased from 12.58 percent in fiscal year 2014 to 11.97 percent
in fiscal year 2017.89
The president of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce noted that Texas has the fastest
growing population of African Americans in the U.S. and leads the nation in the rate of business
formation among African Americans.90
He expressed concern, however, that the Texas model
focuses on attracting companies rather than promoting the retention and expansion of those
businesses.
21
Conclusion and Recommendations
When policymakers and state leaders contemplate or work to advance policies that could harm
the state's economy, Texas businesses should collectively challenge and vehemently resist those
initiatives. If the business community does not have the courage to defy and work against
counterproductive legislation because of fear of retribution, this state is at risk.
In order to ensure that Texas remains globally competitive and continues to promote private-
sector advancement and long-term economic prosperity, all those participating in the legislative
process would be better served by pursuing approaches that could actually improve our
opportunities for success. Therefore, the House Select Committee on Economic
Competitiveness offers the following recommendations:
Recommendation: The legislature must prioritize funding for public education that is
regularly adjusted to account for growth in population and inflation. Policymakers should
closely examine the effectiveness of public education expenditures to ensure that dollars are
used to maximize student success, and ensure the state's academic accountability system
increases the performance of schools and students.
In response to declines in state tax revenue, the 82nd Legislature reduced entitlement
funding for public education by $5.4 billion.91
While subsequent legislatures have
increased funding for public education, the majority of funds have been used only to
cover costs created by the growth in the number of students.
Adjusted for increases in population and inflation, state spending on public education has
decreased by nearly 16 percent since 2008.92
At the same time, there has been an
increase in the number of students who are classified as “economically disadvantaged”
and are therefore more expensive to educate.
As the majority of new funding provided by the legislature simply addresses population
growth, there have been few opportunities to invest in programs that have proven to
increase academic achievement -- such as technical career education, science,
technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM courses, dual-credit offerings, and
bilingual education.
As the state's share of public education funding has declined, the burden on local property
taxes and recapture payments has grown, eliminating any opportunity for local property
tax rates to be reduced. About 54 percent of all property taxes paid in Texas are collected
by school districts.93
Therefore, the fastest and most effective way to reduce the
property-tax burden is for the state to pay more of the cost of public education.
Many of the school finance formula weights and allotments -- such as the Cost of
Education Index or Transportation Allotment -- have not been updated or adjusted for the
effects of population and inflation in more than two decades. Increases in state funding
should be tied to regular adjustment of these weights, combined with the elimination of
funding elements that are inefficient or no longer represent the diverse needs of Texas'
public education system.
22
The legislature must increase funding for special education programs and Early
Childhood Intervention programs so that children with disabilities can successfully enter
pre-kindergarten programs, while also providing more reliable funding for programs that
help students with disabilities transition to the workplace.
Recommendation: The legislature should increase investment in formula funding, financial
aid and workforce and technical training programs at community colleges and state
technical colleges. The state should also partner with the business community to develop a
comprehensive statewide workforce development plan.
State formula funding for higher education has decreased by 16.2 percent since 2008,
while tuition and fees for state universities have increased by 28.1 percent during the
same period.94
While the state has made significant progress in higher education and skilled employment
opportunities through the passage of House Bill 5 and the 60X30 Strategic Plan for
higher education, the state still lacks a comprehensive skilled workforce plan.
Developing and investing in such a plan will require incentives for the business
community to partner with the state's community and technical colleges.
The state should work closely with technical and community colleges to address the
shortage of middle-skilled workers in the state, while working with universities to
increase the number of students who earn a bachelor’s degree within six years.
Recommendation: The state must continue to invest in improving and maintaining
infrastructure. The devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey provide a rare opportunity to
combine state and federal funding to make critical investments in flood control and
mitigation projects that will reduce the impact of future storms.
Passage of Proposition 1 in 2013 and Proposition 7 in 2015 provided, in theory, more
than $5 billion toward addressing the state's transportation needs. However, both
constitutional amendments are redirecting portions of existing revenue streams away
from general purpose spending. In addition, Proposition 1 is tied to a volatile revenue
stream.
Even if the most optimistic projections for these two amendments materialize, the
additional money will barely cover the cost of maintaining current congestion levels.
Neither will meet the significant transportation demands of our rapidly growing state.
With continued opposition to alternative finance mechanisms -- such as toll roads,
managed lanes, or comprehensive development agreements -- the Texas Department of
Transportation will have to prioritize limited transportation dollars to projects that
demonstrate the greatest demand and performance.
In 2013, Texas voters approved accessing $2 billion from the state's ESF to help
capitalize nearly $27 billion worth of water infrastructure and conservation projects
through the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas.95
The ESF could provide
23
significant capital to create similar models to fund other badly needed infrastructure
projects, such as upgrading the state rail or port systems.
Recommendation: The legislature should maximize the impact of tax and economic
development incentives by periodically reviewing their return on investment and making
changes if necessary. Policymakers must also certify that incentives are being applied
consistently across the state, and that they provide equal access for small, medium and
large businesses.
Exemptions available for Texas' sales, franchise, motor vehicle sales, and gasoline taxes
totaled more than $55.5 billion in 2017.96
Many exemptions have existed for decades,
with little review as to whether the exemptions are still serving their intended purpose.
Since its inception in 2004, the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) has made award offers of
approximately $600 million in state funds.97
While reforms were made to the program in
2015 to increase transparency, it is difficult to accurately gauge the competitiveness of
some projects. In some cases, major rewards have been made to large corporations with
a significant existing presence in Texas, and in some cases more than one award has been
made to the same corporation in different locations. In addition, the majority of TEF
awards have been made in North Texas -- more than South, Central and West Texas
combined.
While state programs exist to help foster small businesses, the emphasis on significant
capital investment results in limited opportunities for small or medium-sized businesses
to access the majority of economic development incentives.
Recommendation: The Texas economy has benefitted from a state government that
consistently values a strong business climate based on low taxes, limited regulation and
local control. Future legislatures should focus on these key areas to maintain a predictable
and reliable business climate, avoiding legislation that distracts from critical priorities and
is viewed by many as enabling discrimination against certain groups or classes of Texans.
Texas policymakers must acknowledge warnings from leaders in the business community,
academicians and law enforcement officials about the consequences of such discriminatory
legislation to avoid endangering the state's successful economy.
As noted by multiple witnesses, Texas's diverse population should be viewed as an asset
and advantage in the competitive global markets of tomorrow.
During the 85th regular and first called special sessions, legislation was offered that
would have restricted access to bathrooms based on the gender appearing on an
individual's birth certificate, similar to legislation passed in North Carolina in 2016.
o Dozens of Texas corporate and business leaders -- including several witnesses
testifying before this committee -- objected to the legislation, citing potential
negative impacts to the Texas economy in the billions of dollars per year.
o Consideration of the legislation alone resulted in the cancellation of $66 million
worth of convention business to Texas cities.98
24
During the 85th regular session, legislation was debated and passed that would prohibit
local governments from enacting policies that prohibit the enforcement of state and
federal immigration law. The House sponsor of the bill worked closely with law
enforcement to ensure that the legislation would not make policing more difficult.
However, the House bill was amended significantly during floor debate. The amended
legislation was eventually signed into law over the objections of many law enforcement
leaders. It will be important for future legislatures to work more collaboratively and
closely with law enforcement and the business community so that legislation protects and
promotes public safety, but does not send signals that will make it more difficult for law
enforcement to investigate crimes. In addition, highly divisive legislation that appears
hostile toward certain groups can hurt the state’s ability to attract businesses and
investment, as was noted in this committee’s hearings.
Given the seriousness of the challenges ahead in this fast-growing state, policymakers
should prioritize issues that can directly and positively impact private-sector growth and
economic competitiveness, such as workforce development, education, transportation and
property-tax relief.
25
Appendix A
26
27
Appendix B
28
29
30
Appendix C
31
32
33
Appendix D
34
Appendix E
35
36
37
Appendix F January 26, 2018
The Honorable Byron Cook Chair, House Select Committee on Economic Competiveness Texas House of Representatives
Dear Chairman Cook:
Texas 2050 is an organization comprised of chambers of commerce and statewide business and civic associations that promotes the economic development and prosperity of Texas. Texas 2050 supports the work of the Committee and is pleased to offer comment on matters brought to the Committee’s attention during the November and December hearings.
As Governor Abbott wrote to the Committee about our state’s impressive economic achievements, “These accomplishments are not accidents. Texas has conscientiously adopted pro-growth policies.” Texas 2050 endorses the model developed by state leadership and the Legislature that has made Texas the envy of the nation.
Texas 2050 believes that workforce development is key to the future of the Texas economy. The “Texas miracle” is not a miracle, but is rather the result of intentional policies of the state and its business community. Texas must continue to compete for a global mobile workforce, and education is critical toward this end.
In competing for capital investment, Texas’ biggest sore thumb is our high rate and broad base of property taxation. Texas laws that allow new investment to be temporarily taxed at reduced rates can get Texas back into the game, without which we would simply be priced out of competitiveness. Economic development efforts and business incentives, properly deployed, create neither a cost to government nor a shift of tax burden. Rather, they are money-makers for state and local treasuries and thus generate a return to taxpayers generally. Rather than picking winners and losers, these incentives alleviate the disadvantage caused by our state’s unusually heavy reliance on property taxes. Texas 2050 views business development as paying positive dividends for communities and for the state of Texas.
To pave the way for smart cities and a growing population, Texas’ infrastructure capacity—roads, energy, water, and broadband, especially—is critical to our state’s competitive edge in attracting capital investment. Economic output means little if goods and information are gridlocked at their points of origin. Supporting public-private partnerships, accelerating the deployment of smart infrastructure investments, and updating policies and practices that impede progress are high-value policy goals for Texas 2050. Texas’ success in economic development and job creation did not happen by accident. Texas lawmakers and leaders have created a policy and regulatory climate built for competition and growth. In turn, the entrepreneurial spirit of our innovators has
38
flourished. We encourage a continued commitment to policies that protect consumers and the environment without placing undue regulations on free enterprise. A working relationship between business and government will encourage innovation and investment and will promote the prosperity of all Texans. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
The Texas 2050 Coalition Abilene Chamber of Commerce Arlington Chamber of Commerce Brady/McCulloch County Chamber of Commerce Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce City of Kyle Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Dallas Regional Chamber Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Frisco Chamber of Commerce Grapevine Chamber of Commerce HEB Chamber of Commerce Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Bureau Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Longview Chamber of Commerce Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Mansfield Chamber of Commerce McAllen Chamber of Commerce Mineral Wells Chamber of Commerce New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce Plano Chamber of Commerce Richardson Chamber of Commerce San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Sherman Chamber of Commerce CompTIA TechNet Texas Association of Business Texas Association of Counties Texas Association of Manufacturers Texas Business Leadership Council Texas Chemical Council Texas Economic Development Council Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities
39
Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute Texas Municipal League Texas Taxpayers and Research Association cc: Speaker Joe Straus Representative Senfronia Thompson, Vice Chair, House Select Committee on Economic Competiveness Representative Angie Chen Button Representative Sarah Davis Representative Charlie Geren Representative Joe Moody Representative René Oliveira
40
Appendix G
41
Appendix H
42
43
Appendix I
44
Appendix J
45
46
47
Appendix K
48
Endnotes 1 CNBC Top States Team, “Texas Falls to No. 4 in America’s Top States for Business,” CNBC, July 11, 2017,
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/11/texas-falls-to-no-4-in-americas-top-states-for-business.html. 2 Ibid. 3 Badenhausen, Kurt, “North Carolina Heads The Best States for Business 2017,” Forbes, Nov. 28, 2017,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2017/11/28/north-carolina-heads-the-best-states-for-business-
2017/#2938bf38571e. 4 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 5 Badenhausen, Kurt, “North Carolina Heads The Best States for Business 2017,” Forbes, Nov. 28, 2017,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2017/11/28/north-carolina-heads-the-best-states-for-business-
2017/#2938bf38571e. 6 "Amazon Announces Candidate Cities for HQ2," Amazon.com, Inc., https://www.amazon.com/b?node=17044620011. 7 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 8 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 9 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 10 Weber, Julie, (Dec. 5, 2017), Southwest Airlines, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic
Competitiveness. 11 Reeser, Mike, (Dec. 5, 2017), Texas State Technical College, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on
Economic Competitiveness. 12 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 13 Braddock, Scott, "Experts: Harvey, Texas Immigration Law, and End of DACA Create Perfect Storm for Workforce,"
Construction Citizen, Sept. 14, 2017, http://constructioncitizen.com/blog/experts-harvey-texas-immigration-law-and-end-daca-
create-perfect-storm-workforce/1709141. 14 Ibid. 15 Brown, Steve, "D-FW Needs 20,000 More Construction Workers, Dallas Builders Association Says," The Dallas Morning
News, Jan. 11, 2018, https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2018/01/11/housing-industry-still-hammered-lack-labor. 16 Ibid. 17 Texas Education Agency, "Enrollment in Texas Public Schools 2016-2017," June 2017,
https://tea.texas.gov/acctres/enroll_index.html. 18 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 19 Orrenius, Pia M., Ph.D., (Nov. 15, 2017), Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select
Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 20 Orrenius, Pia M., Ph.D., (Nov. 15, 2017), Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Written Testimony presented to the House Select
Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 21 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 22 McCall, Brian, Ph.D., (Dec. 5, 2017), The Texas State University System, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select
Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 23 Reeser, Mike, (Dec. 5, 2017), Texas State Technical College, Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on
Economic Competitiveness. 24 Rhodes, Richard, Ph.D., (Dec. 5, 2017), Austin Community College; John Sharp, (Dec. 5, 2017), The Texas A&M University
System, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 25 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 26 Reeser, Mike, (Dec. 5, 2017), Texas State Technical College, Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on
Economic Competitiveness. 27 Reeser, Mike, (Dec. 5, 2017), Texas State Technical College, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on
Economic Competitiveness. 28 “The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education,” Indiana University School of Education, Feb. 1, 2016,
http://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/lookup/. 29 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 30 Rhodes, Richard, Ph.D., (Dec. 5, 2017), Austin Community College, Written Testimony presented to the House Select
Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 31 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 32 Ibid. 33 Ward, Mike, "Gov. Abbott Proposes 2.5 Percent Cap on Property Tax Revenues," The Houston Chronicle, Jan. 16, 2018,
http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Gov-Abbott-proposes-property-tax-reform-cap-on-12501098.php. 34 Eastman, Anna, (Dec. 5, 2017), Houston Independent School District, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select
Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 35 Buck Gilcrease, Ph.D., (Dec. 5, 2017), Alvin Independent School District, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select
Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 36 Misso, Robb, (Dec. 5, 2017), Dynamic Manufacturing Solutions, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on
Economic Competitiveness.
49
37 Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, (Nov. 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic
Competitiveness. 38 Staples, Todd, (Dec. 5, 2017), Texas Oil and Gas Association, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on
Economic Competitiveness. 39 “Report Card for Texas’ Infrastructure: 2017,” Texas Section of American Society of Civil Engineers, Sept. 2017,
https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/FullReport-TX_2017.pdf. 40 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 41 Ibid. 42 Zachry, David, (Dec. 5, 2017), Zachry Corporation, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic
Competitiveness. 43 Bass, James, (Dec. 5, 2017), Texas Department of Transportation, Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee
on Economic Competitiveness. 44 “Texas Ports,” Texas Department of Transportation, http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/maritime/ports.html. 45 Guenther, Roger, (Dec. 5, 2017), Port of Houston Authority, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on
Economic Competitiveness. 46 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 47 “Future Population and Water Demand,” Texas Water Development Board, May 2016,
https://www.twdb.texas.gov/waterplanning/swp/2017/chapters/05-SWP17-POPULATION-DEMAND.pdf. 48 Ibid. 49 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 50 Drew, James, “A Fort Bend Engineer’s Warning, 25 Years Old, Comes True during Harvey,” The Houston Chronicle, Jan. 19,
2018, http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/A-Fort-Bend-engineer-s-warning-25-years-old-
12511632.php. 51 Ibid. 52 Ibid. 53 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 54 Lloyd, Brian and DeAnn Walker, (Dec. 5, 2017), Public Utility Commission of Texas, Written Testimony presented to the
House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 55 Ibid. 56 Ibid. 57 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 58 Sharf, Samantha, “The Most Overvalued Housing Markets in America Are in Texas,” Forbes, July 19, 2017,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/samanthasharf/2017/07/19/texas-is-home-to-the-most-overvalued-housing-markets-in-america-
2017/#7c9afb153906. 59 Ibid. 60 Daniel, Bryan, (Dec. 5, 2017), Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism, Oral Testimony presented to the
House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 61 Humphries, Fred, (Nov. 15, 2017), Microsoft Corporation, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on
Economic Competitiveness. 62 Matej, Casandra, (Nov.15, 2017), Visit San Antonio, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic
Competitiveness. 63 Perryman, Ray, Ph.D., (Nov. 15, 2017), The Perryman Group, Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on
Economic Competitiveness. 64 Acevedo, Art, (Dec. 5, 2017), Houston Police Department, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on
Economic Competitiveness. 65 Rice, Sabriya, “One in Every Six Texans Had No Health Insurance in 2016, Census Data Show,” The Dallas Morning News,
Sept. 12, 2017, https://www.dallasnews.com/business/health-care/2017/09/12/one-every-six-texans-uninsured-2016-census-data-
shows. 66 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 67 Caldwell, Katy, (Nov. 15, 2017), Legacy Community Health, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on
Economic Competitiveness. 68 Keller, Andrew, Ph.D., (Dec. 5, 2017), The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Written Testimony presented to the
House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 69 LaMantia, Linda, (Dec. 5, 2017), Texas Cultural Trust, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic
Competitiveness. 70 Montford, John, (Dec. 5, 2017), Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 71 Craymer, Dale (Nov.15, 2017), Texas Taxpayers Research Association, Written Testimony presented to the House Select
Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 72 Vasey, Iain, (Dec. 5, 2017), Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation; Gilberto Salinas, (Dec. 5, 2017),
Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic
Competitiveness. 73 Cheney, Jeff, (Nov.15, 2017), City of Frisco, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic
50
Competitiveness. 74 Shaw, Bryan, Ph.D., (Dec. 5, 2017), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Oral Testimony presented to the House
Select Committee on Economic 75 Luce, Tom, (Nov. 15, 2017), Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 76 Cuban, Mark, (Nov. 15, 2017), Oral Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 77 Orrenius, Pia M., Ph.D., (Nov. 15, 2017), Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select
Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 78 Yancy, Justin, “Texas Has Most to Win or Lose with NAFTA Renegotiation,” Texas Monthly, Nov. 10, 2017,
https://www.texasmonthly.com/burka-blog/texas-win-lose-nafta-renegotiation/. 79 Moore, Jeff, “Section 4A and 4B Sales Tax,” Feb. 24, 2006, https://www.tml.org/legal_pdf/4A-4BSalesTax.pdf. 80 Voelker, Paul, (Dec. 1, 2017), City of Richardson, Written Testimony presented to the House Select Committee on Economic
Competitiveness. 81 Craymer, Dale (Nov.15, 2017), Texas Taxpayers Research Association, Written Testimony presented to the House Select
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Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness. 90 O'Neal, Charles, (Nov. 15, 2017), Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, Oral Testimony presented to the House Select
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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/us/for-texas-schools-a-year-of-doing-without.html. 92 Chang, Julie, "Study: Texas Lags behind Most States in School Funding," Austin-American Statesman, Nov. 28, 2017,
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/study-texas-lags-behind-most-states-school-
funding/TR5PKOYGz9k4DVlcSf8GLP/. 93 Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, "Property Tax Survey Data and Reports," https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-
tax/reports/index.php. 94 Chávez, Stella M., "Behind Oklahoma, Texas Has Made Deepest Cuts to State Education Funding in Past Decade," KERA
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http://www.twdb.texas.gov/newsmedia/press_releases/2017/12/swift.asp. 96 Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, "Tax Exemptions and Tax Incidence: A Report to the Governor and the 85th Texas
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